June 11, 2023
WORDS OF GREETING AND NOMOFOMO
Pastor Amanda Miller Garber
We’ll be gathering for worship on Sunday mornings at 10ish here in the Arboretum all summer long, with a weekly variety of spiritual practices and experiences to connect us with God, one another, and the natural world! We will begin each week on the terrace by the Welcome and Education Center (on the hill) - Bring lawn chairs, blankets, etc as you desire. For more information about the Arboretum, visit www.jmu.edu/arboretum/index.shtml
(In the event of rain, watch our socials for Saturday updates.)If you would like to connect more deeply with RISE, you can start by submitting this short form to Get Connected!
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Text “RISE” to 833-803-0868 to join the primary list and receive weekly community updates and alerts
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Please continue to check social media/the website for all updates and information!
Requests for care and/or prayer can always be sent via e-mail to cares@riseharrisonburg.org, texted to 833-803-0868, or submitted online via our RISE Cares form.
Check out the latest edition of the RISE Report - Your bimonthly(ish) source of information for all things RISE!
WELCOMING STATEMENT
RISE believes that God has open arms, and so should we. Our Creator wants us to love, accept and affirm every human being, including persons of every age, race, ethnic background, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, family or socioeconomic status, educational background, and physical or mental ability. We celebrate our diversity and recognize the sacred worth and dignity of all. Everyone is invited and encouraged to join us as we seek to follow Jesus with mutual respect, understanding, and love.
*Read more about “Why Pronouns Matter” HERE.
SONG
“Be Thou My Vision”
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High God of heaven, my treasure Thou art
High God of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all
Spiritual Practice and THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION
Moon Seeking Practice
For more information on Moon Seeking and its historical, cultural, and biblical roots, click HERE
Exodus 12:1-2
And God said to Moses … in the land of Egypt … this month is for you, the head of the months. First it is for you among the months of the year.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND CONVERSATION:
(Groups of 2-3)
Describe your relationship to time. Finish this sentence: Time is ___________. Explain.
Many young adults report feeling “time famished.” Why do many of us have such a complex and challenging relationship with time?
How could you begin to reclaim your time in small, intentional ways - in 1,5, or 20 minute increments?
How might reclaiming time make a difference for you and your relationships with God and others?
How can you give the precious gift of time to yourself, another person and your larger community within the next month?
SONG
“Hymn of Promise”
In the bulb, there is a flower
In the seed, an apple tree
In cocoons, a hidden promise
Butterflies will soon be free
In the cold and snow of winter
There's a spring that waits to be
Unrevealed until its season
Something God alone can see
There's a song in every silence
Seeking word and melody
There's a dawn in every darkness
Bringing hope to you and me
From the past will come the future
What it holds, a mystery
Unrevealed until its season
Something God alone can see
In our end is our beginning
In our time, infinity
In our doubt, there is believing
In our life, eternity
In our death, a resurrection
At the last, a victory
Unrevealed until its season
Something God alone can see
FINAL BLESSING
Numbers 6:24-26
~a translation by Jeff Bennett from the Paleo Hebrew script
God who exists will kneel before you presenting gifts and will guard you with a hedge of protection.
God who exists will illuminate you with the wholeness of His Being, bringing order (shalom), and He will beautify you.
God who exists will lift up the wholeness of His Being and look upon you to set in place all you need to be whole and complete.
Amen.